Royal Engagement
Source: You Tube (ITV News) Key Words: William Kate engagement
Royal wedding: Prince William and Kate Middleton say time is right for marriage
Announcing their engagement Prince William said: "The timing is right now, we are both very, very happy."
Miss Middleton added that joining the Royal Family was a "daunting prospect" but said: "Hopefully I'll take it in my stride."
The couple were speaking at a photocall hours after Clarence House announced that they planned to marry in spring or summer next year, delighting the couple's parents, politicians and well-wishers.
She will then move in with her husband in Wales.
This afternoon it was confirmed that the Prince proposed with the blue sapphire and diamond ring that his father, the Prince of Wales, gave to Diana, Princess of Wales, in February 1981.
Diana chose the ring, which cost £28,000 at the time, from a selection presented to her by jewellers Garrard.
Prince William said that giving Kate his mother, Diana's engagement ring was "my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today and the excitement".
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are said to be "absolutely delighted" by news of the engagement, while the Prince of Wales said he was "thrilled".
Speaking at his Poundbury model village in Dorset, Prince Charles made reference to the length of their eight-year relationship, joking: "They have been practising long enough."
The parents of Kate Middleton said they were "absolutely delighted" and "thrilled" at today's announcement.
Miss Middleton's father Michael Middleton read a statement on behalf of the couple outside their home near the Berkshire village of Bucklebury.
He said: "I would just like to say that Carole and I are absolutely delighted by today's announcement and thrilled at the prospect of a wedding some time next year.
"As you know Catherine and Prince William have been going out together for quite a number of years which has been great for us because we have got to know William very well.
"We all think he is wonderful and we are extremely fond of him. They make a lovely couple, they are great fun to be with, and we've had a lot of laughs together.
"We wish them every happiness for the future."
Mr Cameron, who was given the news during a Cabinet meeting, said the announcement was met with "a great cheer" by his ministers as well as a "great banging of tables".
The Prime Minister said: "A great day for our country, a great day for the Royal family and obviously a great day for Prince William and for Kate."
A statement from Clarence House read: "The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton.
"The wedding will take place in the Spring or Summer of 2011, in London. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.
"Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya.
"Prince William has informed The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton's father.
"Following the marriage, the couple will live in north Wales, where Prince William will continue to serve with the Royal Air Force."
In his statement, Mr Cameron said that he had spoken to Prince William and passed on his congratulations this morning and in doing so told him that the government "stood ready to do everything it could" to ensure the wedding would be a great success.
He described the engagement as "unadulterated good news" and an occasion when the "whole country will come together".
Mr Cameron also revealed that he himself had "slept on the Mall" by Buckingham Palace on the eve of the wedding of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales as a young man.
His sentiments were echoed by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam also sent their best wishes.
Mr Clegg said: "I am thrilled to hear the fantastic news of Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement.
"Miriam and I would like to send our very best wishes to the happy couple ahead of their big day."
Labour leader Ed Miliband added: "I'm delighted for Prince William and Kate Middleton and send them my very best for their wedding.
"The whole country will be wishing them every happiness."
Meanwhile speaking on behalf of the royal family the Countess of Wessex said: "I think it's absolutely thrilling. We couldn't be more excited."
She added: "I think everyone's absolutely thrilled and we wish them all the love and luck in the world."
Earl Spencer, William's uncle and the brother of Diana, said in a statement: "It's wonderful news. Very exciting. My family are all thrilled for them both."
A spokesman for Lambeth Palace said the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams had expressed his "delight" at the news.
William and Miss Middleton will pose for photos at St James's Palace later today, at which they are expected to show off her engagement ring.
They will also give their first interview together to ITV News's political editor Tom Bradby, an old friend of the Prince, which will be broadcast at 7pm.
Miss Middleton, who comes from a wealthy middle class background, was born a commoner but is now in line to become Queen one day.
She met William at St Andrews University in 2001 while they were studying history of art.
Miss Middleton was credited with persuading the Prince to continue his studies when he considered quitting as he struggled to adjust to university life during his first year.
They moved into a shared house with two other friends in 2002 and reportedly became a couple around Christmas 2003.
The couple briefly split up in April 2007, reportedly because of the strain caused by William's military career, but they were secretly back together within weeks.
Miss Middleton's millionaire parents Michael and Carole, who is a former air hostess, run a mail-order business called Party Pieces which sells toys and party paraphernalia.
She was privately educated at the £15,000-a-year Marlborough College, where she was a keen netball and hockey player, and has two younger siblings, Pippa and James.
Vocabulary Practice:
Here are the definitions and example sentences of words and expressions from the above text. They are taken from the Cambridge Dictionary. Complete the sentences using the word or expression in its correct form.
- Having a great liking for someone or something e.g. "I'm very _____ you, you know," he said.
- To experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something e.g. I've been _____ understand this article all afternoon.
- Making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve something e.g. In spite of unification, the country was still faced with the _____ prospect of overcoming four decades of division.
- The period or day before an important event e.g. Mr Hurd was speaking to Arab journalists in London _____ his visit to Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
- For a short time e.g. We chatted _____ about the weather.
- Formal. At a suitable time in the future e.g .You will receive notification of the results _____ .
- A force or influence that stretches, pulls or puts pressure on something, sometimes causing damage e.g. Their constant arguments were putting a _____ on their marriage.
- Representing; instead of e.g. _____ the entire company, I would like to thank you for all your work.
- To make someone feel very excited and pleased e.g. Ballesteros _____ the golf world with his performance.
- Formal. A brother or sister e.g. I have four _____: three brothers and a sister.
- To deal with a problem or difficulty calmly and not to allow it to influence what you are doing e.g. When you become a politician, you soon learn to _____ criticism ______.
- If two people ______, they end their relationship or marriage e.g. She _____ with her boyfriend last week.
- Very interested, eager or wanting (to do) something very much e.g. They were very _____ to start work as soon as possible.
- To (cause something to) make a sudden very loud noise or noises e.g. He could hear someone _____ at the door.
- Formal. To ask for advice, help, approval, permission, etc e.g. Legal advice should be ______ before you take any further action.
Take a look and complete previous exercises of vocabulary practice.
Here is the news on the day William's parents announced their engagement:
The second item in the news that day was a historic event for Spain:
Here is the news on the day William's parents announced their engagement:
The second item in the news that day was a historic event for Spain:
Comments
2. Struggling to
3. Dauting
4. on the eve of
5. briefly
6. in due course
7. strain
8. on behalf of
9. delighted
10. sibling
11. take criticism in your stride
12. splited up
13. keen - 14 banging PEPE
Did you look up any of the words or could you guess them from the context?
You got most of them right except for:
1. fond of eg I like all chocolate but I'm especially fond of white chocolate.
3. daunting
9. delighted and thrilled are very similar but thrilled has the added feeling of excitement.
10. four siblingS
12. split up (irregular past)
15. sought (past of seek)
Well done!
You can write comments in any post - not just the recent ones.
If you only have time to read the post, leave me a line saying so. (something which your new classmates don't do :-) )
See you Monday.
Here is the exercise solved:
1.Having a great liking for someone or something eg "I'm very FOND OF you, you know," he said.
2.To experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something eg I've been SRUGGLING TO understand this article all afternoon.
3.Making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve something eg In spite of unification, the country was still faced with the DAUNTING prospect of overcoming four decades of division.
4.The period or day before an important event eg Mr Hurd was speaking to Arab journalists in London ON THE EVE OF his visit to Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
5.For a short time eg We chatted BRIEFLY about the weather.
6.FORMAL. At a suitable time in the future eg You will receive notification of the results IN DUE COURSE.
7.A force or influence that stretches, pulls or puts pressure on something, sometimes causing damage eg Their constant arguments were putting a STRAIN on their marriage.
8.Representing; instead of eg ON BEHALF OF the entire company, I would like to thank you for all your work.
9.To make someone feel very excited and pleased eg Ballesteros DELIGHTED the golf world with his performance.
10.FORMAL. A brother or sister eg I have four SIBLINGS: three brothers and a sister.
11.To deal with a problem or difficulty calmly and not to allow it to influence what you are doing eg When you become a politician, you soon learn to TAKE criticism IN YOUR STRIDE.
12.If two people SPLIT UP, they end their relationship or marriage eg She SPLIT UP with her boyfriend last week.
13.Very interested, eager or wanting (to do) something very much eg They were very KEEN to start work as soon as possible.
14.To (cause something to) make a sudden very loud noise or noises eg He could hear someone BANGING at the door.
15.FORMAL. To ask for advice, help, approval, permission, etc eg Legal advice should be SOUGHT before you take any further action.
Alex
Alejandro is a good, strong name but I'll call you Alex if you prefer.
I agree. It can be interesting to see how other countries report on events in your country.
1.Having a great liking for someone or something e.g. "I'm very FOND OF you, you know," he said. 😍
2.To experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something e.g. I've been STRUGGLING TO understand this article all afternoon. 😍
3.Making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve something e.g. In spite of unification, the country was still faced with the DAUNTING prospect of overcoming four decades of division. 😍
4.The period or day before an important event e.g. Mr Hurd was speaking to Arab journalists in London ON THE EVE OF his visit to Jordan and Saudi Arabia. 😍
5.For a short time e.g. We chatted BRIEFLY about the weather. 😍
6.FORMAL. At a suitable time in the future e.g. You will receive notification of the results IN DUE COURSE. 😍
7.A force or influence that stretches, pulls or puts pressure on something, sometimes causing damage e.g. Their constant arguments were putting a STRAIN on their marriage. 😍
8.Representing; instead of e.g. ON BEHALF OF the entire company, I would like to thank you for all your work. 😍
9.To make someone feel very excited and pleased e.g. Ballesteros DELIGHTED the golf world with his performance. 😍
10.FORMAL. A brother or sister e.g. I have four SIBLINGS: three brothers and a sister. 😍
11.To deal with a problem or difficulty calmly and not to allow it to influence what you are doing e.g. When you become a politician, you soon learn to TAKE criticism IN YOUR STRIDE. 😍
12.If two people SPLIT UP, they end their relationship or marriage e.g. She SPLIT UP with her boyfriend last week. 😍
13.Very interested, eager or wanting (to do) something very much e.g. They were very KEEN to start work as soon as possible. 😍
14.To (cause something to) make a sudden very loud noise or noises e.g. He could hear someone BANGING at the door. 😍
15.FORMAL. To ask for advice, help, approval, permission, etc e.g. Legal advice should be SOUGHT before you take any further action. 😍
Well done! There are some words and expressions worth learning here.